It's All Allways About Money
Headline: Blackberry May Be Forced To Shutdown.
Yeah, right! It's an invention and a patent rights case. Money will be made. It's a matter of who will get the loot. And I'm sure it's not me and I don't really care cuz I don't use a single Blackberry except in my breakfast jam.
Though I do know people who do.
An Essential Distinction...
needs to be made. Poppy was what our Baker's Dozen plus, called our Dad. In our family it was Poppy and Ma. Somehow Poppy is also what The Shrub calls his dad, Bush 41. I hate this fact but I'm stuck with it.
Lame Duck Shrub
Seems to me that The Shrub began as a disputed Prez and will end his rule on an even worse down turn, leaving his refuted Poppy on top in Presidential terms.
Bush2 will be ranked, perhaps, maybe, rather, slightly above Nixon as worst Prez ever. But he still has a couple years to totally fuck up. Jesus, makes you long for LBJ who seems like a giant these days.
Oh, BaBa WaWa, You Romantic Old Slut!
BaBa, even knowing you'll be ridiculed worldwide, (for face-it everyone on the Globe, even perhaps in Universe waits each year for these selections) you went ahead and followed your heart of hearts, just like this year's Most Fascinating Person Of the Year, that old toe-sucking Camilla Duchess of Cornwall (nee Parker-Bowes). We all know your runner-up was the Cruise kid. But he's got lots of laps to go and will one day make it to the Top Gun slot. We love you toots.
Sam Has His Own Web Site
Go HERE.
Latest Painting

Cyber-Monday
A new holiday was proclaimed and no one told me about it so I didn't buy a damn thing. So out of the loop I feel ashamed not to have done my part.
Headline
Iraq Victory Strategy Document Revealed.

MacDries says, "I thought the war was over months ago."

Oh! I Did Not Know That
"Al Qaeda leaders bin Laden and al-Zarqawi haven't been found primarily because they don't want us to find them and they're going to great lengths to make sure we don't find them."
-- CIA Director Porter Goss
My Sentiments
Exactly.
Rock'n Roll Hall Of Fame
Rock'n Roll wants to induct Miles Davis and I say they can't have him. Rock is Rock. Jazz is Jazz. I love both forms but it serves no purpose to combine them. To do so, would be to create some sort of hybrid like Fusion. Oh, wait a minute, there was such a thing but not very interesting as either Jazz or Rock. Sorta like saying the Beatles played rock'n roll, when in fact they played mere Pop music.

Another Republican Crook
SAN DIEGO, California -- Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges and tearfully resigned from office, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to conspirators.

MacDries says, "Yes, and we all remember Charles "Chuck" Colson finding God in prison."
A Really Good Book
Ann gave me a stack of five or six novels she's recently read. I started two or three but couldn't get into any of them. I did, however, recently buy a new copy of In Cold Blood and it sucked me right in again.
There is nothing like an irresistible book to make you just want to go to bed and read; especially in the winter. Unfortunately, Robertson Davies is gone and Elmore Leonard only cranks out about one a year. I've read all of Jim Harrison more than once, except his poetry. It takes a really good poet, like Billy Collins to get me to read it much. I'll go back to Yeats, e.e. cummings, Berryman, Ginsberg, Ferlingetti, Olsen, Neruda, Rilke, Dylan and Thomas and a few others, on occasion but that's about it but don't John me no Ashbury. Robert Crais, Dennis Lehanne, Carl Hiassen, Lawrence Block are all pretty good light weight stuff in a pinch. My wife and kids are all (but one) heavy readers and it's comforting to see any of them bunkered down with a new (or old) book. I know then they are happy even if I can't find something to read beyond some old magazine trash.
Heads Up
WASHINGTON Nov 28, 2005 - Part of the marble facade on the front of the Supreme Court collapsed Monday morning, falling onto the steps leading into the venerable building. No injuries were reported.

MacDries says, "Are the ghosts of Douglas, Warren, et. al. trying to tell The Shrub something?"
Call Me...
On the train we passed a huge graveyard and out in the middle was a woman talking on her cell phone and gesticulating wildly. This gave me a great idea for an added feature when it comes time shuffle off this mortal coil. I told My Sparkler to plant my cell phone with me when I'm buried so she can call me whenever she wants.
She didn't think it was very funny.
One Sloppy Kiss
SAGUENAY, Quebec -- A 15-year-old girl with a peanut allergy has died after being kissed by her boyfriend following his snack of peanut butter.
Stand In Line
As with last years unwatchable Ray, Walk The Line is getting the hype and all those people who have never bought a Johnny Cash album are flocking to see the tripe. Even my Little Sparkler said, "I really wanna see it." So, I said, "Can you name me one song by Johnny Cash?" And she said, "No, but I probably heard you play some. I just love Reese Witherspoon."
Once again Americans who can't take Ray Charles and Johnny Cash whole are gonna get sucked in to the watered down version.
Cute Puppies Strike Again
THORNDALE, Texas -- A pack of six dogs mauled a 76-year-old woman to death as she worked in her yard. Lillian Loraine Stiles was riding on a lawn mower in her front yard Saturday when she was confronted by the dogs, described as pit bull-rottweiler mixed breeds, said Milam County Sheriff Charlie West.
Stiles had severe bites over her entire body, and a man who tried to help her was bitten on one leg, authorities said.

MacDries says, "Don't get me started."

Ram Rahman Evicted
My good friend and neighbor is evicted after 26 years. It's legal but that doesn't mean it's RIGHT.
You could go HERE.
It will not load but I don't know why.
I'm Guessing

Karl Rove is soon to be indicted and join Scooter in the unemployment line.
Headline
U.S Lawyer To Join Saddam Defense Team

MacDries says, "Saw that headline and knew it had to be Ramsey Clark. Who else could do it without making it into a circus?"
Traffic
So, on the way up, we got out of the city in pretty good form. But! But, when we got up the Taconic, almost to Hwy 84 to Beacon/Danbury, traffic stopped and I could see red taillights for about 2-3 miles. From then on it was 1 car space every minute or so for an hour. Bullshit!!!! Never going anywhere again.
Yummie!

Back In Bunker City
All Amtrak trains were booked so we had to take a $60 taxi ride to Wassaic, NY and Metro-North into Grand Central then the 4 train to City Hall. Got home to no gas again so it's cold as hell in the loft. Damn!

I Got Nothing
All return Amtrak trains booked tomorrow. We may have to stay up here.

Headline
Jordanian King Urges War On Miltancy.

MacDries says, "Huh?"
Let The Shopping Begin
I'm taking the day off from blogging. It's too tedious on a modem.
Thanksgiving dinner was traditional. Left over cranberries that we'll throw out in a few days. But the pies were awesome; pumpkin, apple and pecan.

The Bird
...is The Word.
Winter Wonderland
Two inches of snow last night.
Emma and mom are happy, Kate's still sleeping and I'm shoveling the paths form here to there. Brining the bird and the girls begin the pecan, apple and pumpkin pies.

Up Country
Electricity is off here and we're heading up country for Burned Bird Day.
'Av a goo' one.
Latest Painting
They keep coming.

Turkey Pardons Bush

Headlines
Motor Trend Annouces "Car Of The Year".
GM announces Massive Plant Shutdowns.

MacDries says, "Something Missing here?"
This One Is For Emma
Some people think dogs are cute.
George W. Bush
MacDries says, "This is a little long but worth reading. E.L. Doctorow wrote it."

I fault this president (George W. Bush) for not knowing what death is. He does not suffer the death of our twenty-one year olds who wanted to be what they could be.
On the eve of D-day in 1944 General Eisenhower prayed to God for the lives of the young soldiers he knew were going to die. He knew what death was. Even in a justifiable war, a war not of choice but of necessity, a war of survival, the cost was almost more than Eisenhower could bear.
But this president does not know what death is. He hasn't the mind for it. You see him joking with the press, peering under the table for the WMDs he can't seem to find, you see him at rallies strutting up to the stage in shirt sleeves to the roar of the carefully screened crowd, smiling and waving, triumphal, a he-man. He does not mourn. He doesn't understand why he should mourn. He is satisfied during the course of a speech written for him to look solemn for a moment and speak of the brave young Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
But you study him, you look into his eyes and know he dissembles an emotion which he does not feel in the depths of his being because he has no capacity for it. He does not feel a personal responsibility for the thousand dead young men and women who wanted to be what they could be.
They come to his desk not as youngsters with mothers and fathers or wives and children who will suffer to the end of their days a terribly torn fabric of familial relationships and the inconsolable remembrance of aborted life.... They come to his desk as a political liability which is why the press is not permitted to photograph the arrival of their coffins from Iraq.
How then can he mourn? To mourn is to express regret and he regrets nothing. He does not regret that his reason for going to war was, as he knew, unsubstantiated by the facts. He does not regret that his bungled plan for the war's aftermath has made of his mission-accomplished a disaster. He does not regret that rather than controlling terrorism his war in Iraq has licensed it.
So he never mourns for the dead and crippled youngsters who have fought this war of his choice. He wanted to go to war and he did. He had not the mind to perceive the costs of war, or to listen to those who knew those costs. He did not understand that you do not go to war when it is one of the options, but when it is the only option; you go not because you want to but because you have to.
This president knew it would be difficult for Americans not to cheer the overthrow of a foreign dictator. He knew that much. This president and his supporters would seem to have a mind for only one thing --- to take power, to remain in power, and to use that power for the sake of themselves and their friends. A war will do that as well as anything. You become a wartime leader. The country gets behind you. Dissent becomes inappropriate. And so he does not drop to his knees, he is not contrite, he does not sit in the church with the grieving parents and wives and children.
He is the President who does not feel. He does not feel for the families of the dead; he does not feel for the thirty five million of us who live in poverty; he does not feel for the forty percent who cannot afford health insurance; he does not feel for the miners whose lungs are turning black or for the working people he has deprived of the chance to work overtime at time-and-a-half to pay their bills --- it is amazing for how many people in this country this President does not feel.
But he will dissemble feeling. He will say in all sincerity he is relieving the wealthiest one percent of the population of their tax burden for the sake of the rest of us, and that he is polluting the air we breathe for he sake of our economy, and that he is decreasing the safety regulations for coal mines to save the coal miners' jobs, and that he is depriving workers of their time-and-a- half benefits for overtime because this is actually a way to honor them by raising them into the professional class.
And this litany of lies he will versify with reverences for God and the flag and democracy, when just what he and his party are doing to our democracy is choking the life out of it. But there is one more terribly sad thing about all of this. I remember the millions of people here and around the world who marched against the war. It was extraordinary, that spontaneously aroused over soul of alarm and protest that transcended national borders. Why did it happen? After all, this was not the only war anyone had ever seen coming. There are little wars all over the world most of the time.
But the cry of protest was the appalled understanding of millions of people that America was ceding its role as the last best hope of mankind. It was their perception that the classic archetype of democracy was morphing into a rogue nation. The greatest democratic republic in history was turning its back on the future, using its extraordinary power and standing not to advance the ideal of a concordance of civilizations but to endorse the kind of tribal combat that originated with the Neanderthals, a people, now extinct, who could imagine ensuring their survival by no other means than pre-emptive war.
The president we get is the country we get. With each president the nation is conformed spiritually. He is the artificer of our malleable national soul. He proposes not only the laws but the kinds of lawlessness that govern our lives and invoke our responses. The people he appoints are cast in his image. The trouble they get into and get us into, is his characteristic trouble.
Finally the media amplify his character into our moral weather report. He becomes the face of our sky, the conditions that prevail: How can we sustain ourselves as the United States of America given the stupid and ineffective war-making, the constitutionally insensitive lawgiving, and the monarchal economics of this president? He cannot mourn but is a figure of such moral vacancy as to make us mourn for ourselves.
--E.L. Doctorow
Tell Me A Riddle
My old pal Rachel Lyon produced this excellent film when she was in her early 20s. It's worth seeing, if you havent.
Weather
It's only November and I'm already sick of winter.

Forgot...
to tell you that my FREE trial AOL country modem subscription expired. So I called to cancel. First, the number they gave me was directed to an obviously Indian responder. So, when I told him I wanted to cancel, he said, "Well I will then transfer you to an agent who will then cancel your account, Sir".
I said, "So, you're in Bangalore, right?" I had read a few paragraphs of The World Is Flat by what's his name from the NYTimes.
"Yes, I am Sir."
I was surprised that he admitted it but I said, "My upstairs neighbor for 26 years is Indian. From Delhi."
"Have you ever been to Bangalore, Sir?" he said.
"Not yet."
"You must come," he said.
"I hope to, soon."
"I will transfer you now, thank you very much, Sir."
He did then transfer me to a officious little twit who wanted me to answer question and after question about why I wanted to cancel and what could possibly been the reason that AOL had been difficient and who I was going to use henceforth to access the Internet.
I said, "Just cancel the fucking account and I don't want any charges to appear on my credit card."
Twit said, "Well, I just need you to answer these few question so I can..."
"Just cancel the fucking account," I said, very politely. "AOL sucks, seriously."
Twit said, "I just have these... things I need to input... in order to..."
"Just cancel the fucking account," I said even more politely.
"Yes Sir," Twit said. "But I wonder if..."
"Thank you," I said.
He then went on to explain that AOL wanted me to know I could continue to access my email acount because they didn't want me to suck up to Google or Yahoo..... yadda yadda...
I said, "Just cancel the fucking account."
I think it's over but one never knows.

MacDries says, "And Time/Warner is still trying to figure out why AOL sucks and how it brought it down. Steve Case is not talking.
Ali
Ali vindicated. What do you think is going on in his beutiful mind these days? We know he thinks The Shrub is crazy and who could disagree?
Dick Butt Kiss
The Dickster is backing down a bit after Murtha called him "5 Deferment Dick".

MacDries says, "Gotta hurt when you know you're a Dick."
Early Bird
I'll post this early cuz we be goin' up country on Wednesday and our 'lectricity will be down again that day so here 'tis.
Update
Retinopathy OK. Electricity off all day thus no postings. Back on again. So I'll see what's up in the world.
Happy Birthday
Bro-In-Law, Bill Derry, 50 or so.
Doctor Of The Day
Dr. Solomon is my Opthomologist who I visit once year for my retinopathy test. Rather not go blind, thank you very much.

Happy Birthday
Bro-In-Lawer, John Diemer, 52 or so.
Meanwhile...
"We are aggressively finding terrorists and bringing them to justice and anything we do within this effort is within the law."
--Dick Cheney- V.P. USofA

MacDries adds, "But we do not torture because torture is illegal. Has Cheney ever read Animal Farm?
On The Road
Worst trip in history. It took 2 1/12 hours to get through the toll booth at the top of Manhattan and down the West Side highway. Maybe I'll just stay home from now on.

Back To Bunker City
Driving in tomorrow for a few days and then back up country with the girls on Wednesday for Turkey Day. Lord of the Land says electricity will be off on South Street, Monday and Wednesday, so postings will be sporadic. Hang in there, we all still love our anonymous hitters here at T Monk Mem.
Walked by a newstand with The Globe displaying the heaadline that The Shrub has had a breakdown of some sort. I didn't bother to buy it for many reasons: 1. I know he's nuts and breaking down might actually be a good thing. 2. If The Globe says something, it is ipso facto specious.
More tomorrow.
Bushwacking
Two big bon fires this morning then cleared a huge pile of brush. It's rather addicting, this work thing, but now I'm whipped once more.
Took a couple hours off to shop for the big bird.
The Singing Detective was good if a trifle incomprehensible. Robin Wright Penn is always nice to watch. Lucky Sean.
Blake Bites The Big One

Who's cocky now, Bobby?
Even though everyone knows OJ and Blake did the deed, they got acquited. But why isn't this double jeopardy?

Today's Chores
Or rather, my chores for today. I raked a ton of leaves into two piles and tomorrow, if they dry out a bit I'll have a bon fire or two. I'm also composting a bunch in some rocky areas of the lawn and will add dirt next spring and replant some grass.
After lunch, I got ambitious and began clearing brush behind the house until it got a bit out of hand. I stacked a couple piles of cord wood for drying and left two huge piles of brush and twigs to be chipped next spring. Then I'll hire my snow plow guy to come in and brush hog the newly cleared area. It should be nice. I'll clear more tomorrow if the weather be good.
Funny thing is, I didn't even feel whipped when I quit for the day.
Tonight's movie is The Singing Detective with Robert Downey and Robin Wright Penn, two of my faves. The British original on TV, years ago was great, so I have my doubts but...

MacDries says, "As a side note, don't you think that our government is in a bit of schizophrenic behavior these days. On the one hand, The Shrub and Cheney are getting their asses (can asses have asses?) kicked pretty regular. On the other, there are all sorts of bi-partisan groupings that don't add up in the usual manner. I'm confused."
Oddities
I didn't know trees could get pregnant but this one down at the end of Angell Hill Road looks about prime to pop.
Get Out Of Voice Jail FREE
Go HERE.
Jim Cambronne @ Alexandre Gallery
Grace Glueck says today in the NYTimes: "a group of small, vibrant, hard-edged gouaches by James Cambronne, whose flat areas of color are punctuated by lines, bars, bands, zigzags and more intricate geometrical arrangements in contrasting tones. These markings, a fusion of Native American, Persian and de Stijl elements (Mr. Cambronne spent his early years on a South Dakota reservation, his art student days at Yale) function as a highly personal vocabulary. One stunner is "May One," whose mustard-yellow field is horizontally striped by three thin bands in contrasting colors, bordered by rows of simple modular elements. Not often seen in New York, Mr. Cambronne's work is a nice find."
Alexandre Gallery is in The Fuller Building @ 57th & Madison.
Crisp Fall Day
A Beautiful Mind turns out to be quite a good movie. It always surprises me when a much hyped movie is actually good. I never remember Jennifer Connelly even though she's gorgeous and a very good actress. The only bad effect was the make-up on Crowe as he got old was so awful you couldn't even recognize him in character.
More leaves to contend with today.

Mommy's Boy

I just love this picture.
Chores Completed
Lazy breakfast with two cups of cappuchino. Drove over to Hawthorne Valley Farm Store and posted flyer re: Apartment For Rent. Excellent store: they have Raw Milk which I haven't had since 1957. Bought a quart. They also have everything healthy you could want to eat and fresh veggies, eggs, organic meats the usual smear. Bought black bean soup for lunch.
Drove to town for a video for tonight. A Beautiful Mind which I've never gotten around to watching. Did some early Xmas shopping and hit the P.O. Amazing, a Money order finally arrived from our old tenant from hell who I forced into court for his bad checks last summer. He thanked me for my patience but seems to have fled the area. Postmark was Dallas, TX and his new business web site no longer exists. Good riddance.
Back home, I cleared the winter trail up the hill so the girls can ski in the coming months and brought a Jeep full of cord wood down to shed for final drying for next year. Took a walk up to the summit (on our neighbors hill) and caught a glimpse of the Catskills across the Hudson as a few snow flurries fell. Back down, I raked a few more leaves but soon got bored and took a break to read the local papers, flyers, etc. Skimmed the NYTimes and now it's getting dark at 4:30.
Watched Max last night with John Cusack. The story was that Hitler became who he was because he was a repressed, frustrated, unsuccessful artist who cared too deeply but couldn't get no satisfaction. So, he decides that the new avant garde art was politics. And all this before he could barely grow that damn mustache. A well done movie with good acting but a wholly specious script.
There is loose talk of spending Turkey Day up here which is fine with me.
Chores
Came to the country to do a bit of work, get exercise, y'know. But it all looks so natural, it's difficult to disprupt anything. Maybe I need a nap. Only slept 10-11 hours last night, in between strolls to the euphemism.
Sexiest Man Alive
Once again it's not me and I've not got too many more shots at it. Matthew Some guy, movie star type. They always get it. I think it's fixed.

Heads Up!
The Center for Disease Control has released a list of symptoms of bird flu.  If you experience any of the following, please seek medical treatment immediately:
1.  High fever
2.  Congestion
3.  Nausea
4.  Fatigue
5.  Aching in the joints
6.  An irresistible urge to shit on someone's windshield

MacDries says, "I have many of these symptoms regularly except #6 is constant and confined to stretch limos and Hummers."
I'm Here
Train was only 15 minutes late which we now call on time. Balmy up here, warmer outside than in but a storm approaching from the SW. All leaves are now down and the views are very open. No sign of my Koi in the pond yet again. I worry about them.
Loaded iTunes up with Buddy Guy and think I'll have a session.
Apartment
Our garage apartment in Ghent, NY will again be available on January 1st. We're looking for a reliable, long-term tenant, so if you know anyone...
Go HERE for some pix.
Buddy Guy
Kate The Great and MacDries went to see the awesome Guy at BMCC last night. FREE. The opening act, Shemekia Copeland, was pretty bogus, but Kate was later thrilled when Guy brought out John (Pretty Boy) Mayer for the second half. Mayer proves to be a pretty good blues guitarist when he knows the song or takes a solo. On a couple songs he did mostly strum fills. Kate stole a couple pix of him with her new phone. Guy does a lot of shuck & jive "entertaining" which can get a little tedious but when he cranks up his guitar or sings straight away blues, he is peerless. His second lead guitar, bass and the alto sax player (whose names I didn't get) were also very good but his piano player was awful. The drummer was almost as wide as he was tall but carried his weight and rhythm well.
Unfortunately there was a young guy behind us who I had shut-up a couple times. He was trying to impress his girl friend by having a running, shouting, clapping, finger-snapping dialog with Buddy. Terrible person to be stuck near and I felt proud that I didn't have to throttle him.
What You See Is What You Get
Fred (the former RomDog) tells me that my pages break up in an ugly manner on some of the browsers, especially Windows Explorer, Opera and FireFox. If you see ugly broken pages on your computer, I would appreciate if you email me at the above address. Thank you (so much).
North Country
Heading up to modem land for a few days if Amtrak can make it.

Meanwhile
Scalito tries to backpeddle a bit on his anti-black, anti-abortion stance and Senator Ms. Feinstein (D-CA) seems to have bought it. "He seemed sincere," she wimps.

MacDries says, "C'mon Scalito, don't be a pussy, stick to your guns. The Dems don't have the cohones to stop you. And now you just sound like some pathetic little brown-nose toadying up to Saint Ronnie to get a job."
Abortion
The argument about abortion has always been framed wrongly. No one is "pro-abortion", except those totally flippant and callous individuals who use it as the primary form of retroactive birth control. There are too many of the above mentioned individuals who have no intention or capability of giving the love and support evey child deserves. Such children will be born into the morally and ethically despicable family of the selfish. I think we can all imagine the ramifications of this non-choice.

Abortion is always and evermore a horrible and dangerous alternative for a woman to choose. But there are quite a few legitimate reasons for a woman to choose not to give birth. Beyond the one usually given, i.e. a woman's personal safety, there is youth itself, where a child becomes pregnant either through ingnorance, carelessness or all too often incest or statutory rape. Many of these poverty striken children will indeed "choose" to deliver the child if only to create the semblance of a family where none actually exists. Families who can afford it will always make alternate arrangements for their own child in such a predicament, sometimes not quite practicing what they are preaching.

There are also economic concerns where the pregnant woman has no means to support one or multiple children and all present are doomed to suffer ever more poverty of means and spirit. If the state delares these women must deliver an accidental or unwanted child, then the state is responsible for the support and welfare and education of these children to maturity. Unfortunately, the politicians who insist they are "pro-life' are the same ones who do not want the state to fund such domestic expenses.

The correct way to argue the issue is not Pro-abortion vs. Pro-life. The issue is: the Right to Choose vs. Governmental Control. But again, those who claim to be against government intervention are usually the same ones who want to tell everyone what we should or must do.

Addendum: Open and specific Sex Education is the true key to reducing the numbers of abortions. and not the kind every kid in America gets from watching Friends. There are many ways to avoid un-wanted pregnacy if only we start educating our children. The simple minded start with abstinence but everyone post-puberty knows sex is enticing, attractive, hyped and sold like sugar water. So we know that is not working. There are also condoms, pills (before and after), diaphragms, and the old totally ineffective "rhythm method" that my Catholic parents used to produce 15 children without a single mortal sin on their dear departed souls. Time to get a clue.
Hypocrit Of the Week
Go HERE.
From BuzzFlash. Go HERE.
More Bruce
More great video clips by The Boss on NYTimes site, Arts section.
Latest Painting

The Shrub Keeps Sinking
87% approval in November 2001. Today it is under 37.

MacDries says, " I still say it's too late but gratifying as Dubya's approval ratings keep slipping lower."

The National Anthem
Yesterday at the beginning of Kate's swim meet everyone stood and faced the flag in preparation for the Star Spangled Banner. It had been so long since I was in a similar situation I didn't at first know what was going on. Some were standing with hands on hearts and singing along, some just stood. I didn't really feel like standing and felt like protesting the sentiment but didn't want to embarrass Kate so I took my cue from her. She stood with hands behind her back, so I did too. I thought crossing my fingers was a bit juvenile so the impulse was suppressed.
23rd Psalm*
Bush is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh logs to be cut down in the national forests.
He leadeth trucks into the still wilderness.
He restoreth my fears.
He leadeth me in the paths of international disgrace for his egos sake.
Yea though I walk through the valley of pollution and war,
I will find no exit, for thou art in office.
The tax cuts for the rich and thy media control, they discomfit me.
Thou preparest an agenda of deception in the presence of thy religion.
Thou anointest my head with foreign oil.
My health insurance runneth out.
Surely megalomania and false patriotism shall follow me all the days of thy term,
And my jobless children shall dwell in my basement forever.
* courtesy of SheilaB
As If There Was Ever Any Doubt
"I am particularly proud of my contributions in recent cases in which the government argued that racial and ethnic quotas should not be allowed and that the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion."
-Samuel Alito

MacDries says, "The smoking gun. Time to kick ass Mr. Phil E. Buster."
As If There Was Ever Any Doubt
Billary Rodman Clinton is definitely running for Prez. Witness her visit to the wailing wall and courting the Israelis. She couldn't fit Palestine into her busy schedule at the same time but did slip a note into the wall. She didn't reveal her wish but sources later removed the hand-scrawled note, which read: Suck on this Ms. Lewinsky
Meanwhile, Condiment W. Rice, one of her erstwhile opponents in 2008, is in country at the same time polishing her bona fides.
Free Bruce
A great video clip by The Boss.
Go HERE.
Snarky
Journalists, columnists and critcs at the NYTimes have learned the above new word and each writer in some sort of order has to find a way to use it. Your job is to discover where the word will appear each day. Last year it was "eponymous". Another time it was "quondom" or "hirsute". Look it up.
New Morning
Emma couldn't sleep last night. "It's too quiet," she said this morning. Gone are the beeping fork-lifts, or hi-lows as the fish mongers called them. No F words rising minute by minute, above the cacophony 3 floors below. And this morning around, 10 it will be even quieter when the garbage truck doesn't sit outside our building beeping for an hour while it loads the debris. And hopefully, the residue smells of fish juice and burning wood in the oil drums will disipate and we'll smell only the fresh sea when the tide is high. These are all good things and especially nice for Emma not to have to walk through the hundred pairs of eyes checking her out as she turns 13.

Happy 60th Birthday Skinner
Twin brothers Dennis & David (Skinner & Bull) were born 60 years ago today. David died about 10 years ago from complications of agent-orange. His Veteran's Administation doctors claimed it was Guilliame- Barre syndrome but we know better.
Dennis, a grandfather more than once, (seen here with honorary brother Carl, also a grandfather) is still peddaling his bike around Sioux Falls, SD, reading and listening to music and making mixes for young girls, much like John Cusack in High Fidelity.

MacDries says, "I have not yet acheived the dubious distinction of grandnessfatherdom and with two teenagers am not in a big hurry."
Late Start
Had to get up early to catch the subway an hour up the island to watch Kate in the swimming finals for the year. Have no idea what's going on but it's beautiful fall day in Bunker City.

Welfare For Artists
The MacDowell Colony wants to retain its privileged status at the expense of other taxpayers.
Go HERE for the whole story.

MacDries says, "So a rich composer guy leaves a lot of money to support his fellow artists in a manner they can not themselves acheive. Why does that mean he gets to determine how his estate shovels out the money left over when he is rotting in his grave, at the expense of others in the same community? C'mon, artists are pathetic enough without needing government support. The government has no business supporting artists, nor do they have any business supporting the oil industry or the farmers. Capitalism means you supply the goods and the people decide what they want to buy."
The New Tom Cruise
Jennifer Aniston is the latest Tom Cruise. She has obviously hired a new publicist to conteract her pathetic post-Bradness.

MacDries says, "Cute as she is, I'm getting a bit tired of her."
Next Door Neighbor
Kate & Emma had their eye on the Fair Fish sign next door but the guys took the mermaid with them.
Shopping Cart Annie
It's unclear what will become of our pal Annie, a ribald, old gal who peddles cigarettes and newspapers. Back in her younger days she provided other forms of comfort to the guys. She's been working among the fishmongers for 40 years except for a year or so when she went to California to live with her daughter. She couldn't stay away, however and was soon back. "I've enjoyed myself so much, she says, and they've enjoyed me, too."

MacDries says, "Annie used to love popping her water-filled balloon sized breast out at anyone who dared taunt her."
The New Battle Hymn
Mine Eyes have seen the bungling of that stumbling moron Bush;
He has blathered all the drivel that the neo-cons can push;
He has lost sight of all reason 'cause his head is up his tush;
The Doofus marches on.

I have heard him butcher syntax like a kindergarten fool;
There is warranted suspicion that he never went to school;
Should we fault him for the policies -- or is he just a tool?
The lies keep piling on.

Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
His wreckage will live on.

I have seen him cut the taxes of the billionaires' lone heir;
As he spends another zillion on an aircraft carrier;
Let the smokestacks keep polluting -- do we really need clean air?
The surplus is all gone.

Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
Your safety net is gone!

Now he had a mighty hankerin' to bomb a prostrate state;
Though the whole world knows it's crazy -- and the U.N. said to wait;
When he didn't have the evidence, "We must prevaricate."
Diplomacy is done!

Oh, a trumped-up war is excellent; we have no moral bounds;
Should the reasons be disputed, we'll just make up other grounds;
Enraging several billions as his brainlessness redounds;
The Doofus marches on!

Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
Glory! Glory! How he'll screw ya!
THIS...DOO...FUS...MAR...CHES...ON
Avian Flu

Fulton Fish Market
I first started hearing about the market leaving us about 1981, two years after I moved into our loft above Messing Fish on South Street just under the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. Now, 24 years later, after Ann joined me and Kate and Emma came along, after many fits and starts, Mafiosi and miscreants, law suits and legal wrangling, the Fish Mongers are finally gone.
Today was the last day and now they are gone to Hunt's Point. I say good and bad riddance. I never cared much for the macho red-neck ambiance and the "fucking this, fucking that" vocabulary as my girls came and went, day after day but the rent was reasonable.
On the other hand the Yuppies have landed and gentrification is a fact of life and the costs and aggravations will acrue.
It's a beautiful 3/4 moon sunset reflected tonight over our Brooklyn Bridge bidding the Fish Mongers farewell. And the lazy Sea Gulls will have to find new prey.
I said, "good luck" to one guy down the street at Slavin Bros. who was just a baby when I moved in. I caught a glimpse of a tear in his eye.
The night Kate was born, I came home from the hospital in the early morning and bought a double Jack Daniels on the rocks in a take-out plastic glass (4 bucks) at the original Paris Bar next door to go to sleep on. They did such things in those days to accomodate me and the Fish Mongers. No more.
Here is Kate's remembrance of growing up amidst the cacophony down below, written for her college applications.

"Like all newborns, I was brought home from the hospital. But the sight that greeted me was not one of quiet streets and hushed hallways, ready to receive an infant child. It was dirty, fish-filled streets, and yelling men, beeping forklifts and early morning salt air. Because my home was not the average New York City apartment, on an average New York City street. My home was the only residental loft building in the middle of the Fulton Fish Market in downtown Manhattan.
Messing Fish Company occupied the first two floors of my building. And on that first day home, I met Harry, the kindest fish monger there. He was probably about sixty years old, a small, white-haired man with a booming voice and wide grin. As the story goes, he was estactic when my parents brought me home, and when I was older, he would give me a high-five every day on my way to school.
The thing about the fish market is that it is off the schedule that the city operates on. It opens late in the evening and ends late in the morning. So all night, while most of the city-that-never-sleeps is sleeping, these two blocks are filled with men buying and selling fish. The only really quiet time is the weekends, when the market is closed. But Sunday night, the big tractor-trailers from around the country start arriving, and it begins again.
There are so many things that I have lived with that I consider normal, that an average person in New York would find weird or unsettling. While other girls skipped along Park Avenue off the bus after school, I've stepped over and around fish guts on the street, watching seagulls treat them as a delicacy. I've seen water wash through my front door because the East River had flooded, making it impossible for me to go to school, but the men in their high black boots just laughed at the water. I've seen burning scraps of wood shoved in old trash cans for warmth, the flames rising higher and higher in the cold morning air. I've dodged still-live crabs scuttling on the sidewalk.
Yet none of this ever occurred to me as being unusual. I couldn't sleep when visiting friends upstate because, as my sister said, "The quiet is too loud." I got used to asking men to please push aside tunas as large as me from my front door so I could walk past. I went down to let my friends in because we didn't have a buzzer, if my friends could even find the place. Supposedly, "look for a green door" is not a good enough description of the building you live in. But none of this bothered me, because once I stepped inside my loft, it was cozy and filled with light and the familar glow of my father's paintings. And walking to and from my house was like an adventure. I got to step out into a part of a past New York that is missing from a lot of the city that my friends live in, and be a part of something that has been there for a long time, a life that other people lived.
My parents began to grumble about the constant light and noise outside our window every weeknight. I noticed that as I got older, the fish mongers got younger, and friendlier in a different way. Harry retired and then passed away. The storefront in our building emptied out. We got a new landlord, who asked my mom not to keep her bike in the entryway and installed a new-and-improved buzzer system. And for the past several years now, the fish market has been planning to move, up to Hunts Point in Queens. And yes, part of me will be glad to see it go. I've grown older, and quiet isn't so loud anymore. I don't like ruining new pants in dirty, sewage filled water. But now, new people are going to move into the newly renovated loft spaces readily available on all sides of me. It'll smell like sheetrock, not tuna. I recently saw a picture of Hunts Point in the newspaper. It's indoors, and very clean. I can only hope that the new Fish Market lives up to the hustle and bustle its predecessor introduced to me. Its just too bad no one will get to live in the middle of it."
-Kate Derry Dries

Born To Run @ 30
"The screen door slams / Mary's dress waves / Like a vision she dances across the porch / As the radio plays" (Thunder Road)
"One soft infested summer me and Terry became friends / Trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in" (Backstreets)
"The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive / Everybody's out on the run tonight but there's no place left to hide" ("Born to Run").
-Bruce Springsteen
Bloombush, Brooks & Dunn
His politics are about as profound as Brooks & Dunn's country credentials.
Kinky For Governor
Kinky, Jesse Ventura & Willie. Go Kinky, airing on Country Music Television, follows Friedman, on the campaign trail in the Lone Star State. "Every crazy redneck in Texas is for Kinky," Friedman said from his ranch in Medina, Texas.
Box Camera
My Mama had an old (Kodak?) box camera that had huge negatives and she took some wonderful pix; usually on holidays. This is one taken on the farm of the first nine of The Baker's dozen.
A New Tradition
My daughter Kate (and her posse) developed the habit of saying "I love you" each time she leaves the house or signs off on the telephone. At first it seemed odd and contrived, coming from a family where no one uttered those 3 little words; hardly ever. I chafed a bit, at first, because it seemed about the same as everyone now saying, "Have a good day" or worse "Have a good one". However, now, a bit later, I find I miss it if Kate or Emma doesn't say it. It makes me feel as if I've done something wrong and I probably did but tomorrow they will have forgiven me and will brighten my day, once more, saying those silly 3 little words. I love you too, Kate The Great & My Little Sparkler. And Aaron & Gretchen too, though we didn't have that tradition, we can pass it on.

BloomBush
One last thing then I'll shut up since all you right-wing Dems love him so damn much. The spread was 20% not 38%. Right, still a huge landslide but now I hear rumbles about "The Presidency". Gimme a fucking break. He's still a hypocrite (who bought the office) and a very short man, in my mind. Corzine over there in Jersey also bought his office but it was a face-off with another guy also trying to buy it. There oughta be a law, but since JFK's daddy bought him into his Preziness it's seems to be OK. I don't think so. There oughta be a law.
Kitty Kitty
Some people think these glorified squirrels are cute.
The Biggest Dick
If there is a bigger one than Cheney, it has to be Bill Frist. When someone is so stupid, it is difficult to know where to begin. So I won't bother. I just had to vent because everyday he says something stupider than the day before. I can't wait for him to be indicted for insider trading.
New Fave
My bro-in-law, Diemer, first turned me on to Charles Lloyd a couple years ago. I resisted him at first because he plays a bit too beautifully. Since then I've acquired a few CDs and have to say they are all good to great. You might try Forest Flower- Charles Lloyd at Monterey, Hyperion With Higgins, Lift Every Voice, Notes from Big Sur as a starter.
More From WlfSng
I don't know what this means but I can't help passing it along.
Now My Endocrinologist
Today at 1:45. Tomorrow I see my Opthomologist. Today's dentist visit was inconclusive and I probably have to go somewhere else to have another root canal.
Getting pretty sick of these guys and gals. Now I've dicovered that the incompetent Dr. Gissen-Stanley, today ground away a rough spot on the inside of my front tooth. I don't know why and I just don't have the energy to go back and cuss her out or sue her. Avoid her like the plague. Plus they play teeny-bopper black music radio in the back-ground. I didn't have the heart to tell them you can get ear cancer listening to such crap. Holistic Dentistry, my ass.
Then, Dr. Young says, my blood sugar is too high, gotta get more exercise but that is so boring. I don't mind working when I'm up country but to get on the eliptical trainer is beyond me.
Some People Have Too Much Money
23.8 million. As I said, even if he was America's greatest sculptor. Sold to GoGo Gagosian. Art "dealers" now call themselves "Gallerists". I suppose to put them up on a level with Artists. Lots of luck with that. They have the money and we want some of it.
More Tooth Aches
Gotta go. Later.

Bye Bye Judy
A whole bucket of covering-ass is gonna be published in the next few days about Judy and The Grey Lady.
Try not to be too cynical. The pompous entitled need their privacy as much as the rest of us.

MacDries says, "How this little hack made it for 28 years is hard to imagine."
Dependancy
Electricity has been off for two hours on a grey day. It was supposed to be off for 1/2 hour, which is tolerable. But after an hour it gets to be a bother. I took an nap for a half hour but now I'm helpless and pathetic. In addition to light, the Internet is also out. I have a battery on my Powerbook but I have to flip the screen way back to light the keyboard. I can listen to iTunes but I don't really like to use headphones. Plus, I don't really feel like using the computer, so what is a guy to do? Can't watch The Daily Show on TiVo. Can't read. It's raining so it's not so kewl to take a walk. Too dark to cook something good for later. Bah! What did people do back in the day?
Whoopie! It finally came back on.
Some People Have Too Much Money
16 million for a medium sized Lichtenstein. For the painting, not the Principality.
22.4 million for an Homage To Mattisse; not even a real one. If Rothko only knew how wonderful he was, perhaps he wouldn't have trashed himself.

MacDries says, "Those are dollars, folks. Millions of dollars. Haven't they got something better to spend it on? Like me, perhaps, or feed some people, perhaps."
Pigs At The Trough
The oil industry's third-quarter profits jumped 62 percent.
"To my constituents, today's hearing is about shared sacrifices in tough times versus oil company greed. Working people struggle with high gas prices and your sacrifices appear to be nothing."
-Sen. Barbara Boxer, California
"In the midst of pain, in the midst of suffering, the public sees headlines about record profits.
-Sen Daniel Inouye, Hawaii
No Gain Equals No Pain
The Democrats are so pathetic that not losing two Governorships (VA & NJ) is a great leap forward. But watch they can still screw it up before next year's mid-terms.
BloomBush It Is
No surprise, I'm always on the losing side. Not that Ferrer was very attractive, I just like to see Republicans lose at least once in a while.
Luckily, Corzine in Joisey will be allowed, as Governor, to appoint his sucessor as Senator for a year which should give himerher a leg up in 2006.

Hadda Happen
Just in time for me.
Sorry
I got nuthin' today.
Except, how 'bout those French. Nice to know other Western countrys are screwed up too. But I can't bring myself to read anything about the riots so I don't know what's going on.
Gandhi said when he went to sleep he died and when he woke up he was reborn.
That would be cool, if I could sleep at night for more than an hour or two.
The Shrub's Speech Coach
"This is fantastic - I've got a laser pointer! ... Holy mackerel ... ah man, that's terrific!"
-Donald Rumsfeld
Go HERE for more.

MacDries says, "Now we know where The Shrub went to school."
Election Day
Once again it's time to vote against someone.

The Telephone
OK. It's getting out of hand. It got better, briefly, when the answering machine was developed and one could screen calls. And call forwarding is a nice feature. Call-waiting is totally offensive. But now, with the advent of the cell phone, it has gotten oppressive in the extreme. Every second person on the street or in their cars is yakking; simply beacuse they can and they want to flaunt it!
Now everyone is constantly linked (unless they are in the subway or out-of-service area which is not infrequent). In which case two or three calls are required to connect with the desired party.
Case-in-point. My wife is about to board her flight to Yerp and wanted to send a meaningless goodbye to our daughter who is cross-town on the shuttle. So, she calls me. I tell her Emma is on the shuttle and to call her cell nmber. Emma calls me for the third time to say she's on her way home. I say, I know, your Mom is trying to call you to say good-bye. OK, bye. Ten minutes later, Emma arrives home and says yes Mom got to say goodbye. Whoopie!!!!!
Cingular is happy. Buy stock, now!!!!!!!!
Jersey Politics
Corzine, whose ex-wife made statements criticizing him in published reports last week, also had to respond to unsubstantiated allegations he'd had a sexual relationship with a former staffer, which he denied. Forrester, meanwhile, denied having had an extramarital affair, rejecting a tabloid gossip column report that he had a relationship with a campaign aide.

MacDries says, "As my old HS math teacher said, 'Keep yer pecker in your pants and you'll be better off'. Now, is that unreasonable advice or not."
Nature v. Art
The tongue of the Malaspina Glacier, the largest glacier in Alaska, fills most of this image. The Malaspina lies west of Yakutat Bay and covers 1,500 sq mi (3,880 sq km).

MacDries says, "In a contest between Nature & Art, I say Nature always wins.
"We Don't Torture"
The Shrub says, "We don't torture" but he wants Congress to give him the right to do what we already did in Abu Ghirab and Gitmo, willfully and without regard for Geneva Conventions. This Twerp must be reined in and the Republicans will have to do it. We all know why, don't we?
Morning Sky
Woke this morning to a real Marsden Hartley sky. There was an even better one but by the time I performed my morning oblutions and grabbed my camera, this is what I caught.
And the last of the color, yesterday, around the corner on Slate Hill Road.
NYTimes Puff Pieces
I see the Times is still pushing BloomBush, declaring his new lead at 38%. You might think they would throw a couple favorable articles to Freddie at the last minute, so they could at least pretend to be neutral. But no. Luckily Mayor Mike doesn't get one Democrat's vote. My wife has to go to Europe today and I don't think she bothered to vote absentee. Something is screwy when even an intelligent family member leans towards a Bush supporter, Republican contributor; as opposed to a lifelong Liberal Democrat. I don't get it. New York is still Bunker City and the Republican control the world. Time for some truth here.
Bunker City
Back on time. Actually the 10:25 from Hudson was 5 minutes early. And the trip was completed with only 3 scratchy paranoid announcements about terrorists, 6 posters to say something if I see something and the required show of pix ID to buy my tix. Then there were 22 camo National Guardsmen and cops with automatic weapons at Penn Station to protect me.
I need protection from the paranoid a**holes who concoct these schemes.

Whipped
Milkweed. As a child, when I was chopping thistles from the corn rows @ 50 cents per hour, I was told to never chop Milkweed because Monarch butterflys supposedly plant their eggs there. Besides being beautiful, I'm not sure how they fit the ecological scheme but beautiful is good enough for me.
90% of the leaves have dropped so our land is mostly golden brown. 2-3 hours of raking leaves and cleaning the eaves and I'm totally exhausted. I may not be cut out for this restful country living.
The reason Fall is so great and no sweat, in the country, is because there are no bees, wasps, bugs, flies, nor, mosquitoes left. Only a few tiny spiders that leave silky webs all over the place but no real damage. Don't know what their function is either but they are tiny. Thinking of building some bat houses out by the pond to help with the bugs next year. Research is necessary.

Also need to get a detailed topographical map so I can work on some walking, cross-country ski trails trails into the neighbors woods and beyond. The E-Vam Tibetan Buddist Institute is just over the hill about a mile or two. It's run by a guy named Traleg Rinpoche. "Call me Rinpoche." They seem legit and these woods are full of spiritual types. Maybe I can rent our apartment to some of his residents.
Full also of 7th Day Adventist folks too who leave Watchtower brochures stuck in my door all the time. But they're too creepy and pathetic to believe. I ran one off the other day when I spotted her Bible without even telling her that the Watchtower Time & Tempurature sigh has been lighting my way across the East River for 26 years now. Good thing they are passive and unlike all these neo-con Christians running the world and invading other countries. Or whacko Muslims venting our way.

Hired a guy to insulate the floor under the apartment and of course the first question out of his mouth was: "Got a lot of deer around here?"
I says, "Yeah but the previous owner fed them so they're pretty damn tame. They come put their noses at the kitchen window, begging. I see enough of that in Bunker City."
"So, you don't allow hunting?"
I says, "You know the term shooting fish in a barrel?"
"I hear you," he says, looking a little disappointed. "You gonna feed 'em?"
I says, "No, maybe in a few years when they've become a little more skittish, I'll let a few friends bow-hunt and we'll share the venison. No salt lick or platform shooting, however."
"Sounds fair."
His wife says, "Is this Ghent?"
"Just barely, the Austerlitz line is about 20 yards past that wood shed over there."
"The new Postmaster used to be my boss. Tell him Noreen says hey!"
"Sure will," I say, but I wont.
There was a guy in the back seat straight out of Deliverance who I did not ask, nor wish, to speak to.
Back to Bunker City tomorrow noon on the odious, and odiferous Amtrak.
Yard Work
Gotta go rake leaves so I don't have to face them in the spring when they're all wet.

AOL SUCKS, Still After All These Years
Why do people put up with such crapola internet service. I signed on Free for a couple months until I decide how to go up here (because my other Free service was terminated). That's my excuse. What's yours? I'm dumping them as soon as the 45 days expire.
Some people should have gotten the message when they bought the huge, much larger Time-Warner and the deal soon tanked. Case went into the shadows and a few days ago he disappeared even deeper. The difference between Google and AOL is clear: AOL tried to corporatize the internet. Google works within the internet and adds value. Now everyone wants what Google has and no one wants AOL.
The ground is a blanket of yellow leaves that someone will have to rake in the spring and the trees are nearly bare so you can see the Catskills in the East. I'ma go watch a movie.
AMTRAK FROM HELL
The Bush Adminstration must be running Amtrak today. The 9:45 #281 made it as far as under the GW Bridge and stopped dead on the track. After 15 minutes we were informed there was trouble with the engine. After 30 minutes we were told that the engine had to be replaced and a new one had left Penn station. After 60 minutes we were told that a new engine had left Penn Station and would be here in 10 more minutes and 10 minutes more to hook up. Needless to say it didn't arrive on that timetable. After 2 hours and 25 minutes the train moved 50 yards and stopped again. A train passed going south and after 10 more minutes we seem to be on our way.
Luckily John's Taxi can accomodate these delays. ETA in now 2:05.
Will No One Rid Me Of These Meddlesome Judges?
That's a paraphrase from Becket. Rent the movie with O'Toole & Burton or read the play. It sounds very familiar.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A new judge has been appointed to preside over Rep. Tom DeLay's campaign finance trial after two judges stepped away from their involvement in the case because of their political contributions. But judicial wrangling left the validity of Thursday's appointment of semi-retired Senior Judge Pat Priest of San Antonio in question.
Priest, a Democrat, was selected to replace District Judge Bob Perkins, who was removed Tuesday at DeLay's request because of his contributions to Democrats.
Republican Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub had been named earlier Thursday to select a new presiding judge after Perkins was removed, but he withdrew at the request of Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle because of his political contributions to GOP candidates.

MacDries says, "And so, the dance continues. But what's going on with Frist and his insider trading? Not to mention "Porky" Rove?"
I'm Gone To Angell Hill
Family Favorite Lemon/Garlic Baked Chicken (Ann's recipe) last night, with lemon steamed carciofi and garlic mashed potatoes with gravy (the girls add cottage cheese as well, eeuwwwhh). Emma's scratch chocolate cake. Yummie! (Later in the night, I pay for all the garlic with a few tabs of Mylanta.)
Kate got Let's Get Lost, Terrance Blanchard with Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, Diane Reeves and Jane Monheit, plus 3-17 selection CD mixes, from me. A subscription to Downbeat and some clothes from Ann, pajamas from Emma. Tonight she has her posse over for rock'n roll which is one reason I'm outta here. Ann is crashing upstairs at Ram's so she can keep an ear on the proceedings and Emma is on a convenient sleepover. Back On Monday.

Bunker City Surveilance
I mention what it's like living in Bunker City post 9-11 from time to time. If you have any doubt about the level of Big Brother, go HERE.
Bunker City Street Scene

Just some babes and a black guy on the street.
How to Rent A Negro
Go HERE. Full Disclosure: They're not all this gorgeous.
Or Go HERE.
Some Call It Art

RENO, Nevada - Oscar Goodman, hizzoner, the mayor of Las Vegas, has suggested that people who deface freeways with graffiti should have their thumbs cut off on television.
"In the old days in France, they had beheadings of people who commit heinous crimes."
Goodman said the city has a beautiful highway landscaping project and "these punks come along and deface it. I'm saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb," the mayor said. "That may be the right thing to do."

MacDries says, "Or not! Perhaps you make them scrub it off and forget the TV bit. Some people like attention. Some artists can't afford canvas or can't get a gallery. Some Mayors are sadist"
Where Is He Today?

MacDries says, "I'm serious. What do you suppose he's doing right now? Think he's watching Oprah on TiVo? Maybe he's praying to the Devil."
Everyday In Every Way

Now I Understand
One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theory to his buddy Norm. Here's how it went:
"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."
No There, There, Anymore

This is the wall next to Massa's Pool Hall that they tore down in my old home town. I spent a good portion of time growing up there and made pocket change hustling Snooker with drunken salesmen.
Ram Says...
"Run, Run, Run, everybody. One of the most amazing Mughal manuscripts, Commissioned by Akbar in the 1590's, is up at the Met. The main part is in Baltimore, at the Walters, and like the 'Padshahnameh' a few years ago, was recently unbound for restoration. Which means that after hundreds of years, we can see it almost complete. Even the original lacquered covers are there."
Go HERE.
Up Country
Quick trip to modem land tomorrow. Back on Monday.
Happy Birthday Kate The Great, Carolyn, Schon & Harry
I ♥ you all. Well, Harry in a kinda macho buddy way.
17 40+ 50+ 60+
A whole gang of brown-eyed Scorpios and Ram is another coming up on the 16th.

Supposedly
Can you read this? Olny srmat poelpe can. cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Gimme A Fucking Break
Oliver Stone is shooting a film about the events of 9-11. What are these assholes laughing about?

MacDries says, "Jesus Fucking Christ!!!!!!!!!!!! (pardonne the French) Who could possibly be worse? The worst film director in History, with the worst actor in History, doing a film about the most Hyped event in History. Add in corporate Hollywood and you might begin to imagine The Horror!!!!! It might even be worse than Ray"
More On DeLay/Abramoff
Coming down the pipeline: "Do you think you could call that friend and set up a meeting," then-DeLay staffer Tony Rudy wrote to fellow House aide Thomas Pyle in a December 29, 2000, e-mail titled "Gale Norton-Interior Secretary." The Shrub had nominated Norton to the post the day before.

MacDries says, "They work fast, those slimy little staffers."
More On Cronyism
Two days after Katrina hit, Marty Bahamonde, one of the only FEMA employees in New Orleans, wrote to Brown that "the situation is past critical" and listed problems including many people near death and food and water running out at the Superdome. Brown's entire response was: "Thanks for the update. Anything specific I need to do or tweak?"
On September 12, Brown resigned, 10 days after President Bush told him, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."
Brown took over FEMA in 2003 with little experience in emergency management. He joined the agency in 2001 as legal counsel to his college friend, then-FEMA director Joe Allbaugh, who was Bush's 2000 campaign manager. When Allbaugh left FEMA in 2003 Brown assumed the top job. Before joining the Bush administration, Brown spent a decade as the stewards and judges commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association. For more Go HERE.

MacDries says, "Does the term "in over your head" ring a bell?"
Around The Castle
Word is out from many sources that The Shrub is strutting and ranting round the Castle and casting blame in all directions except where The Buck Stops. There is even speculation that Cheney will plead health issues and resign, only to be replaced by (god forbid, each and every one): Baker (not Howard like Reagan did) but James who got him appointed in the first place, Condiment Rice, and last but not the least odious McCain.

MacDries says, "Dream on!!!!!!!!"
Separated @ Birth

And they've gone their oposite ways ever since.
Doh! Of The Day
Scooter pleads not guilty. And now "the media" will try to milk it until February when the next episode commences.

MacDries says, "I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He's guilty until acquited.
Sidewalk Sculpture

Bunker City is full of public art.
More Puff Pieces
Each day the NYTimes declares the race for Mayor is all but over. One day they quote "some polls" show BloomBush leading by 31%. Today they say "some Democrats" say Ferrer's race is about over.
Ka'ching goes the BloomBush cash register.
Something Is Screwy
According to my counter, I had 935 hits yesterday. That can't be accurate unless you folks have been talking.

One Day...
they will finish building Bunker City.
Too Late Dewd
KABUL, Afghanistan Nov 2, 2005 - Prison doors and cells have been fortified at the U.S. military jail in Afghanistan as details emerged of an unprecedented breakout by a suspected al-Qaida leader and three others who picked locks and evaded a mine field.

MacDries says, "And what ever happened to Osama?"
Doonesbury Does Obese

For a Daily Dose go HERE.
Bubba Remembers Rosa
Prez Bill has a nice tribute to Rosa Parks on CNN's website today. Find it there cuz I can't copy the link.
Overheard
Governor Pataki: Go out and study hard so you don't get a bad exam on your grades.
--Cantor Film Center, East 8th Street
Penny Postcards...
will now cost 24 pennies. We all have jars of pennies, I suggest we bombard the post offices across the USofA with purchases in pennies until they eliminate junk mail.
Flat6

Aaron has updated his site, so for all you Porsche fans: Go HERE.
Bill Kohn R.I.P.

Just learned that an old pal passed away a year ago. Good painter, good teacher. Go HERE to see his work.
Wanna Hear A Mouse Sing?
Go HERE.
What To Do In Denver
54% of the electorate says it's OK to have a bit of pot on your person.
The Bad News
More troops for Iraq.
DeLay judge replaced.
Wimpy Dems courted in Scalito nomination.
Maureen Dowd has still not retired.

Retro
This is more yesterday but it just arrived from Grupp who is a Mexicophile.
Finalmente
In a speech on the Senate floor, Democratic Leader harry Reid demanded the Senate go into closed session. The public was ordered out of the chamber, the lights were dimmed, and the doors were closed. No vote is required in such circumstances.
Reid's move shone a spotlight on the continuing controversy over intelligence that President Bush cited in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Despite prewar claims, no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq, and some Democrats have accused the administration of manipulating the information that was in their possession.

MacDries says, "Don't tell me the Democrats are finally going to grow some balls. They've refused to realize that they too were elected and can use all the Senate protocols available. Do it! There is an election coming up next year. And a fillibuster is not precluded in the Scalito nomination.
Halloween's Defunct
First morning after the beginning of the dread season, huge bowl of candy on the counter, my Sparkler says, "Well, Daddy, are you excited about Christmas?"
I said, "Give me a break."
Then, without a beat. "What are we doing for Thanksgiving?"
"We have Kate's birthday first."
"Oh, right."
The Shrub's New Gambit
Avian flu is the new terrorist threat being used to distract us from his stumbling, bumbling, misdeeds and malfeasance. It will prove to be about as ominous the Y2K computer bug. Makes for a steady stream of news stories and another method to keep the electorate nervous and maleable post Katrina.
Chelsea Morning
Man Eating Words. Platinum print. Lesley Dill has a show currently at George Adams Gallery in Chelsea, until November 26th, 525 West 26th Street.
Delicate, poetic, Lesley whispers louder than many shout. See it!
Just spent a couple hours looking at "art". Tons and tons of over-produced, over-conceptualized just out of graduate school, neo-psychedelic painting and sculpture, gallery after gallery showing large scale photography. Boooorrrring!
Lesley Dill's show was the only decent art I saw.
Ain't Gonna Happen
For all hoots and whistles, praise and shouting, that will go on for a few months, the damn Republicans control congress and Scalito will be confirmed. Short, that is, of some hard evidence of child molestation in his past.
So just get on with it. Two conservatives are gone and replaced by two conservatives. And that makes 5 Catholics out of nine. The WASP court is gone. It's the next one The Shrub gets to choose that will do the trick. Better pray that old codger (what's his name? Stevens) hangs in there.
New Month
And the beginning of the dread season.

Back at'cha Shrub. You little twerp!
Go HERE to see the whole tape.

For The Latest Dries Art GO HERE
For The Latest CyberToonz GO HERE
I've never actually watched an episode of The Simpsons (I'm more of a Pixar kind of guy) butt...
*Dislaimer

Go To: MacDries Design

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